Personal Philosophy of Health Education
Before reading about social change related to health education in the book, Philosophical Foundations of Health Education, I wanted my health education philosophy of social change to include community and education that can increase awareness and help others to be socially responsible. Now, after reading about social change, I understand social change in health education encompasses even more to include empowering at a group level, helping create peace in the world, potential to influence public health policy and advocating for promoting better health care not just better medical care. Although health educators have potential to make change in society in an advocating, public policy way, not all health educators may pursue the area of social change in health education. The other areas of a health educator’s personal philosophy such as cognitive- based thinking, decision-making, behavior change, and freeing/functioning that I read and learned about helped me better identify my own personal philosophy to include presenting information to assist in making healthy choices, setting goals and objectives that can be achieved with behavior modification, and incorporating the individual focus on individual freedom, goals, and ongoing learning for all at a level that meets the individual learner’s ability to understand. So even if I am not directly involved in social change in health education, the other areas addressed in my health education philosophy will still impact change on a community level by assisting individuals, who are members of society and communities.
Roles & Responsibilities of Health Education Specialists
NCHEC (National Commission for Health Education Credentialing) Areas of Responsibilities for Health Education Specialist Practice:
Area I Assessment of Need and Capacity
Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: In my experience as an advocate, I was recruited to participate in a collaborative that was bringing together statewide partners to close the critical gaps in perinatal (related to childbearing) mental health education, policy, prevention, treatment and outcomes for women and their families in the state of Florida. The identified purpose of the collaborative was to enable every woman in Florida and her family to receive the help and support they need for optimal maternal mental health and well-being. As a member of the initial steering committee, after five meetings, we established work groups consisting of research, policy, community awareness and advocacy, and clinical/service/capacity and training. The work groups were designed to brainstorm and gather information to assist in identifying future goals for the collaborative. The steering committee consisted of leaders of organizations (both public and private), representatives from various professions related to perinatal health, advocates, and consumers. Each workgroup drafted a goal and action items. I was a member of the community awareness/advocacy workgroup and one of the action items identified and needed was a statewide social support group network.
Area I Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative Original Steering Committee Member List:
2. Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative Work Groups List:
Area II – Planning
Area II Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: I will continue with they experience that I had as an advocate participating in a collaborative that was bringing together statewide partners to close the critical gaps in perinatal (related to childbearing) mental health education, policy, prevention, treatment and outcomes for women and their families in the state of Florida. The collaborative’s overall mission of “supporting women’s mental health and strengthening families” was created with input from the steering committee and workgroup members. A more specific vision was identified to include every woman in Florida and her family will receive the help and support they need for optimal maternal mental health and well-being. Although each workgroup developed one or two goals and action steps, the overall goals of the collaborative were identified. One of the five overall goals identified was to ensure that an array of health professionals have the education and training to effectively screen, treat, and manage perinatal mental health conditions. The process of planning also identified a goal to increase statewide awareness of perinatal mental health as an underserved medical issue and to eliminate stigma surrounding mental health. Tools initially developed to achieve goals was an awareness campaign and tool kit partnered with Sachs Media which included social media posts, education about the legislative process and information to send to local news outlets. Also, a website and Facebook page were designed and eventually launched.
Area II Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. Awareness Campaign/Toolkit partnered with Sachs Media
2. Development of Florida Maternal Mental Health Facebook Page
3. Development of Florida Moms Matter Website: www.flmomsmatter.org
Area III – Implementation
Area III Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: I will continue with the experience that I had as an advocate participating in a collaborative that was bringing together statewide partners to close the critical gaps in perinatal (related to childbearing) mental health education, policy, prevention, treatment and outcomes for women and their families in the state of Florida. The important first step of implementation was for the collaborative to host an annual conference for continuing education. Also, to partner with other training opportunities of evidence-based providers such as Postpartum Support International. Another objective was to promote adequate training on perinatal (related to childbearing) mental health for professional programs targeting medical, social work and first responders. The first Florida Perinatal Mental Health Conference held in 2015 is how the “birth” of the maternal mental health collaborative occurred. The original steering committee began meeting in 2016 after the brainstorming session held at the first conference in 2015. The annual conference has evolved to an accredited training attended by professionals, stakeholders, and consumers from throughout the state of Florida. The 7th annual conference will be held this December. The collaborative began meeting as a steering committee in 2016 and in 2017 the collaborative became a 501c3 nonprofit. I participated through January 2019 until circumstances changed for me and then the COVID shutdown and health situation prevented me from continuing my participation. I am grateful for this course assignment because it helped me review my involvement and I have rejoined the collaborative. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have been involved in over the years.
Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative’s Annual Perinatal Mental Health Conference
2. Get the Facts: https://www.flmomsmatter.org/pmad-facts
Area IV – Evaluation and Research
Area IV Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: One of the workgroups with the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative was designated for research. A goal identified was to facilitate and coordinate related research efforts statewide and generate funded research. One of the actions was to recommend an existing data collection system called PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) be modified to collect data on perinatal related mental health. Also identified and awarded was a grant opportunity in October 2018 to receive grant funding from the Human Resources and Services Administration to address the mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women. The Florida Department of Health was to partner with the Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine and the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative to develop a model for screening and treating maternal mental health concerns. The five year grant was awarded to develop a sustainable screening and treatment model to improve maternal mental health concerns across the state.
Area IV Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. PRAMS: https://www.floridahealth.gov/statistics-and-data/survey-data/pregnancy-risk-assessment-monitoring-system/index.html
2. Grant Awarded: https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2018/10/100318-maternal-mental-health-pr.html
Area V – Advocacy
Area V Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: Once again, my involvement with Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, gave opportunity to participate in advocacy. In January 2018, I participated in a maternal mental health advocacy day at the capital in Tallahassee, Florida. As a result of the collaborative’s efforts, a senate bill “Florida Families First Act” was introduced by Senator Lauren Book. The bill was designed to address the need for increasing awareness, screening and support for moms and families facing a perinatal mental health crisis. The advocacy day was planned after the bill was introduced. On that day, I partnered with a professional with lived experience and we met individually with several members of Florida House and Senate to present the facts and encourage their support of the perinatal mental health legislation. Unfortunately, the original bill did not pass, and another bill was adopted that did not appropriate as much as original bill did. It was still great that anything was passed, and attention given to a much-overlooked area of mental health.
Area V Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day January 29, 2018: https://capitalsoup.com/2018/01/23/maternal-mental-health-advocacy-day-jan-29/
2. CS/SB 138: Perinatal Mental Health: https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/00138
Area VI – Communications
Area VI Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: As was stated in planning, the II area of responsibility, the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative developed website, Facebook page and awareness campaign. After area V established advocacy, the need to determine if communications were successful would be necessary. Getting a bill passed shows the success of advocacy communication. But what is the success of communication to the moms and families that need services and support in the area of perinatal (related to childbearing) mental health? I recall when the initial awareness campaign was launched with social media and twitter handle #flmomsmatter. This campaign was targeted to the moms and families that had or were experiencing mental health crisis related to childbearing. The campaign helped generate conversations and eventually more support to moms and families with a goal of establishing a statewide support network for moms and families. I do not have access to the actual statistics of the campaign but if I did, looking at the search and website analytics would help determine the success of communication.
Examples of Competence/Sub-competency:
1. Florida Maternal Mental Health Website directed help: https://www.flmomsmatter.org/help-for-loved-one
2. Florida Maternal Mental Health Website Resources: https://www.flmomsmatter.org/get-help
Area VII - Leadership and Management
Area VII Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: When I was a volunteer area coordinator for Postpartum Support International, I had to manage and coordinate relationships with medical providers, families, and representatives of the organization, Postpartum Support International. The organization’s mission is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide. As a coordinator, I attended training at the organization’s annual conference, which helped to equip me to provide informational support to the stakeholders in Northwest Florida, the location I was a volunteer coordinator. I was able to direct area health professionals to the perinatal mental health certification offered by Postpartum Support International. Several professionals became certified so they could better assist the mothers and families they were providing services to in Northwest Florida. Postpartum Support International has grown to have members all over the world, including volunteer coordinators in every one of the United States and in more than 36 other countries. Postpartum Support International distributes information and resources through its volunteer coordinators, website, and annual conference. Its goal is to provide current information, resources, education, and to advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health.
Area VII Examples of Competence/Sub-Competency:
1. Postpartum Support International’s Impact Report
2. Postpartum Support International’s Strategic Report 2020 - 2025
3. Certification Perinatal Mental Health
Area VIII – Ethics and Professionalism
Area VIII Evidence of Competency/Sub-Competency: Ethics and professionalism, the eighth area of responsibility, is one of the most important, in my opinion. Which in thinking back on my life experience of ethics and professionalism, there are less concrete, direct examples of evidence. Of course, I am blessed to have been taught in my childhood upbringing to obey the ten commandments, which gave me a great foundation of honesty, obeying the law and no harm to others. I remember coursework in my undergraduate studies on business ethics, which reinforced my foundation and applied it at a higher level within my academic and professional life. Thankful for those experiences because the direct topic of ethics and professionalism was not introduced formally in any way throughout my previous career and work experience until two years ago when I joined a chapter of the Columbiettes, a women’s volunteer organization. It was with the Columbiettes that I was asked to agree to and sign a formal code of conduct. The code of conduct stresses integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, respect for others, responsibility, accountability, empathy, obedience, and teamwork. Creating an environment free from discrimination and harassment. Of course, many of my past volunteer and professional experiences implied to be ethical and professional just not had me agree to and sign anything formally. Thankful that I try to incorporate ethical and professional behavior, to the best of my ability, in all areas of my life.
Area VIII Examples of Competence/Sub-Competency:
2. Overall information on Columbiettes: http://www.columbiettes.com/Default.aspx The code of conduct is considered a confidential document so I cannot share copy.
Professional Goals
To complete graduate studies and earn master’s degree in health promotion and worksite wellness. In five years, upon completion of degree and if medically able, introduce healthy eating and optimal brain health to children and young adults.